Coping Mechanisms and Adaptation to Climate Variability and Floods among Communities Living around Ggaba Fish Landing Site Kampala, Uganda

Bachelor Thesis , 2022 , 66 Pages , Grade: 2.0

Environmental Sciences

Fisheries support livelihoods but are threatened by climate variability and change which intensified globally since the 1970s. This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to determine the extent to which fishers around Ggaba fish landing site, Lake Victoria in Uganda were copying with perceived changes in climate variables and flood impacts on their livelihoods, to generate knowledge to enable the fishers increase resilience and sustain their livelihoods. The study used the following objectives: - 1) to determine the demographic structures and livelihoods activities of fishers around Ggaba fish landing site 2) to assess the impacts of climate c h a n ge and floods on the livelihoods of people around Ggaba fishing community and 3) to find out the coping strategies used by fishing communities living around Ggaba fish landing site against climate variability and floods. The data obtained was analyzed using Microsoft excel version 13.0 to output statistical results and discussions. Overall results indicated that Fishers were aware of changes in climate manifested by unpredictable seasons, floods and droughts. Fishing was the main livelihood activity of the people around Ggaba fish landing site. The African catfish had replaced Nile tilapia as the dominant fish species in the local market at Ggaba. There was damage and loss of gear, boats, landing sites and lives, and changes in fish catches and sizes, income and fish consumption during the perceived floods and droughts. The fishers adapted to the changes through increasing time on fishing grounds and changing target species and fishing gears but innovative ones diversified to high value crops and livestock which increased their income beyond what was earned from fishing thus acting as an incentive for some of them to quit fishing. Diversification to non-fishery activities as a form of adaptation was enhanced by membership to social groups, weekly fishing days, fishing experience and age of fishers, but its benefits were not equally shared among men and women. Mitigation measures suggested included protecting the surrounding wetlands or water catchment zones. Adaptation and mitigation measures were constrained by limited credit, awareness and land.
In conclusion, the required interventions included improving access to credit, irrigation facilities and raising awareness. The study showed that the fishers were aware of changes in climatic variables and the impacts on their livelihoods. [...]

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER ONE
  • INTRODUCTION
  • 1.0 Introduction
  • 1.1 Background of the study
  • 1.2 Problem statement
  • 1.3 Objectives of the study
  • 1.3.1 General objective
  • 1.3.2 Specific objectives
  • 1.4 Research Questions
  • 1.5 Significance of the Study
  • 1.6 The scope of the study
  • 1.6.1 Geographical and Content scope
  • 1.6.2 Time scope
• CHAPTER TWO
  • LITERATURE REVIEW
  • 1.0 Introduction
  • 2.1 Demographic Composition of Fisher Communities
  • 2.1.1 Characteristics of fisher communities
  • 2.1.2 Fishing Communities and their Socio-economic Livelihoods
  • 2.2 Climate variability and community impacts
  • 2.3 Effect of Climate change and Floods on Fishing Communities
  • 2.3.1 on Lake Victoria
  • 2.3.2 Hydrological cycle and rainfall patterns
  • 2.3.3 Water temperature
  • 2.3.4 Oxygen content
  • 2.3.5 Sea level
  • 2.3.6 Impacts on coastal systems
  • 2.3.7 Impacts on livelihood assets
  • 2.3.7.1 Impacts on natural capital
  • 2.3.7.2 Impacts on physical capital
  • 2.3.7.3 Impacts on social capital
  • 2.3.7.4 Impacts on financial capital
  • 2.3.7.5 Impacts on human capital
  • 2.4 Coping Mechanisms/Mitigation measures of impacts climate change by fishers
• CHAPTER THREE
  • MATERIALS AND METHODS
  • 3.0 Introduction
  • 3.1 Research Design
  • 3.2 Location of the study area and population
  • 3.3 Sample Size determination
  • 3.4 Sampling Procedure and study Population
  • 3.5 Data collection Instruments/Tools
  • 3.6 Data Analysis
• CHAPTER FOUR
  • PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
  • 4.0 Introduction
  • 4.1 Results
  • 4.1.1 Demographic structures and livelihood activities of Fishers around Ggaba fish landing site
  • 4.1.1.1 Demographic structures
  • 4.1.1.2 Livelihood Activities
  • 4.1.2 Impacts of Climate Change and Fishers' perceptions of climate change
  • 4.1.3 Coping strategies/Adaptation measures and Innovations using by fishing community at Ggaba fish landing site
  • 4.1.3.1 Strategies/ Adaptation measures
  • 4.1.3.2 Innovations and their benefits to both men and women
  • 4.1.3.3 The influence of demographic characteristics on diversification
  • 4.2 Discussions of Results
  • 4.2.2 Perception of fishers to climate variability and change
  • 4.2.4 Adaptation, innovations and mitigation strategies
  • 4.2.5 The influence of demographic characteristics on diversification to non-fishery livelihoods
• CHAPTER FIVE
  • CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
  • 5.0 Introduction
  • 5.1 Conclusions
  • 5.2 Recommendations
  • 5.2.1 Demographic structures of the people on Ggaba fish landing site
  • 5.2.2 Activities on Ggaba fish landing site

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation examines the coping mechanisms and adaptation strategies employed by fishing communities living around Ggaba Fish Landing Site in Kampala, Uganda, in response to climate variability and floods. The study seeks to understand the demographic characteristics of the fishing community, their perception of climate change, and the impacts of climate change on their livelihoods. It also aims to explore the various coping strategies and innovations used by fishers to mitigate the effects of climate change. The research further analyzes the influence of demographic factors on diversification to non-fishery livelihoods.

• Coping mechanisms and adaptation strategies of fishing communities to climate variability and floods.
• Demographic characteristics and socio-economic livelihoods of fisher communities.
• Impacts of climate change and floods on fishing communities.
• Innovations and their benefits to both men and women in the fishing community.
• The influence of demographic factors on diversification to non-fishery livelihoods.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter One provides an introduction to the study, outlining the background, problem statement, objectives, research questions, significance, and scope. Chapter Two presents a review of existing literature on the demographic composition of fisher communities, climate variability and its impacts, and coping mechanisms employed by fishing communities to address climate change.

Chapter Three details the research design, location of the study area, sample size determination, sampling procedure, data collection instruments, and data analysis methods used in the study. Chapter Four presents and discusses the results of the research, focusing on the demographic structures and livelihood activities of fishers, the impacts of climate change and their perceptions, and the coping strategies and innovations employed by the community.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This dissertation explores the themes of climate change, climate variability, floods, fishing communities, coping mechanisms, adaptation, innovations, livelihood diversification, demographic characteristics, and sustainable resource management. The research focuses on understanding the impacts of climate change on fishing communities, their adaptation strategies, and the role of demographic factors in influencing diversification to non-fishery livelihoods.

• College: Kampala International University (School of Natural and Applied Sciences)
• Course: Environmental science
• Grade: 2.0
• Author: Roman Barasa (Author)
• Publication Year: 2022
• Pages: 66
• Catalog Number: V1168047
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346633545
• Language: English
• Tags: coping, mechanisms, adaptation, climate, variability, floods, communities, living, ggaba, fish, landing, site, kampala, uganda